Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) joined the likes of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) this month, becoming the latest Democratic leader to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
President Donald Trump has had an up-and-down relationship with Carney throughout his time in office, made contentious by Trump’s tariffs and his recurring suggestions to make Canada the 51st state. Throughout the first two years of Trump’s second term, Democrats have sought to distance themselves from his policies toward the U.S.’s northern neighbor, with several Democratic 2028 contenders going out of their way to meet with Carney, with Shapiro becoming the latest.
Both Shapiro and Carney’s office confirmed to the Washington Examiner that the June meeting, first reported by Politico, took place. Shapiro told Politico in an interview that Carney requested the meeting, which lasted about 30 to 40 minutes. Shapiro said the two leaders had “a really good in-depth conversation” and said he is “an admirer of [Carney’s] leadership.”
“I really wanted to just make clear that we respect Canadian sovereignty and also do business,” Shapiro told the outlet. “I mean, Canada is a huge trading partner for Pennsylvania. We export and import literally about $14 billion a year on both sides. We have a totally balanced trade relationship.”
Shapiro is expected to run for president in 2028, and shoring up a relationship with Carney could expand his image on an international scale. Buttigieg and Slotkin, two names who have also been floated as 2028 contenders, both joined Carney in Canada back in early May, Semafor first reported.
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Govs. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Andy Beshear (D-KY) each raised their international profiles at the World Economic Forum in January, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) put their on-the-ground foreign policy skills to the test at the Munich Security Conference in February.
None of the above politicians has confirmed they are running in 2028, but many analysts speculate that they are preparing for presidential campaigns.